Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 233

Chap. IV]

§ 53.

209

be embraced under Physiea and

Avliich are to

Then come

THE FIVE FACULTIES

Chemistry.

the sciences which investigate certain groups of

elements in their organic relations,

i.e.

Mineralogy, Botan}^

After that come the studies which direct viz., Geology, Geography in

and Zoology.

themselves to our earth as such, its

And

broadest extent, and Meteorology.

Astronomy

;

and

finally Cosmology., as

lastly follows

embracing the whole.

Let no one imagine, however, that all these sciences as such belong to the so-called exact sciences. No one will be

Cosmogony, and the evolution-theory shows that natural philosophy cannot itself to the simple results of weight, number, The simple observation of what one hears, sees,

able to assert this of of

Darwin

sufficient!}^

afford to limit

and measure. t;istes, and handles, even with the aid of instrumental reinforcement of our senses, and under proper verification, is never anything more than the primitive point of departure of all science and stands formally in line with common perception. Only by the discovery of the laws which exercise general rule in that which is particular does this science raise itself to its second stadium, and become able to exerBut though in this way it macise authority over matter. terially aids in establishing the dominion which was given man over all created things, and though physical science has contributed the valuable result that

it has exalted the independent human consciousness and has set us free to so large an extent from the dominion of matter, it has by no means yet satisfied the highest scientific need. As long as it

knows nothing beyond the

several data

and the law by which

mind cannot rest. It among the several king-

these data are governed, the thinking

searches also after the relations

doms

between our earth and the other parts of the all of nature outside of us and man, and finally after the origin of nature and of the tie which binds us to it, even in our body. These are the points of connection between the faculty of Natural Philosophy and the other faculties and the fact that physical science inclines more and more to announce itself as the only true science, in order to coordinate man witli the objects of zoology, and to explain of nature,

cosmos, between

:

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